GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: 7
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

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Hello,

I have a rectangle I would like to duplicate several times on a layer, each copy should be aligned x pixels right to the last copy.
To clarify ("*" is the rectangle here): I have "*" and want to produce "**********".

Looking at Adobe Illustrator, there is a wonderful transform tool where you can say "duplicate selection 50 times, align each new copy x pixels right to the last one".
I am missing this in GIMP. Google just helped out with the selection and clone tool in GIMP, but that does not seem to do the trick.

Any hints how this can be achieved easily?

Regards,
Dietmar

Unfortunately, GIMP does not provide a very easy means of duplicating things with an offset. I am sure there are third-party scripts that simplify this but I leave that to others to point out. What GIMP does have is the Align Tool ( ) -- but it requires just a bit of extra effort to get it to do what you wish.

First, create (or paste) the shape that you wish to copy on its own layer. I used a blue star (instead of a rectangle) in the following example. Then perform a "Layer->Autocrop Layer" on your shape layer.



Duplicate your shape layer to create a new one for every copy (I duplicated the star layer six times to create seven copies) and then hide the topmost shape layer.



Double-click the Align Tool icon ( ) in the Toolbox to raise its Tool Options dialog. Change the Relative to: drop-down to "Active layer" and the Offset: to your desired distance separating the objects.



In the image window, draw a rectangle around your shape layer with your mouse, then click on the Distribute Right button in the Distribute section of the Tool Options dialog.



All of the visible shape layers should be offset by the appropriate amount (and your hidden layers will not be moved, which is why you hid the top layer).
Unhide the hidden shape layer and, if desired, merge all the shape layers into a single layer.

I think ofnuts has a plug-in(s) something like that. I can't remember the name(s) but I think there are two similar scripts.

[edit] Sorry I can't find it.

As mentioned, Multi-Replicate is a good and CloneLayer Tool is worth a look as well.

For scripts not involved in paths the downloads are here. But I don't think I have anything for the problem at hand.

Otherwise I would use the Align tool as indicated above or perhaps copy the object to the clipboard (with transparent bits at the right places) and use it as a brush or even a pattern for a pattern fill.

There is another plug-in arakne-follow-path
http://www.arakne.es/en/dessign/gimp-pl ... oordinate/

dialog looks like this



result like this

dietmar - have tryed to see if Inkscape has that tool. if you say Adobe Illustrator has it then download Inkscape its the samething as Adobe Illustrator but free. Good luck. CT-Gimper101

Hi,

thank you very much for this valuable help!

Dietmar

Is what you're trying to do related in any way to the speedometer thing you're doing?

No.

It's another project ;-)
I am trying to do
http://www.vectordiary.com/illustrator/ ... -tutorial/
with GIMP...

Dietmar

The script just worked great, see here the result...

Excellent result dietmar.
Which script did you use Multi-Replicate or arakne-follow-path?

multi replicate...

It seems I am too silly to find the installed arkne-followpath in my Gimp installation :/

Dietmar

It is in the paths tab. Right click the path >Tools>Follow Path.
I used multi replicate at 20 rectangles and 100 for x placement and got good results also with a default 640x400 image 15x98 size rectangle. Also had to stroke by 1 pixel the original rectangle.


Results